YourWinterWeek: Successful conclusion of the 2026 winter sports weeks.

Winter sports weeks are among the most formative experiences of many students' school years. Shared sporting activities in the snow not only promote physical activity and academic progress, but also strengthen class cohesion. With the school class project "DeineWinterWoche" (Your Winter Week) – initiated by the German Ski Association, the German Ski Instructors Association, Snowboard Germany, and the Foundation for Safety in Skiing – a total of nine school classes spent a free class trip in the snow this winter.

As part of a competition in which nearly 1,000 school classes across Germany applied, the initiative, with the support of its partners, enabled a total of nine classes from grades 7 to 10 – the project is open to all school types – to enjoy a free week of winter sports. Travel was convenient and climate-friendly via Deutsche Bahn (German Rail). INTERSPORT provided the students with rental equipment. Accommodation costs, including full board and lift passes, were covered by the respective tourism associations and regional mountain railways. Alpetour and Klühspies Reisen – specialists in school ski trips – were responsible for organizing the trips. The teachers and students themselves chose their preferred destination when applying.

In January and February, the first six classes traveled to the Bavarian destinations of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Oberstdorf, and Lenggries in the Tölz region, as well as to Feldberg in the Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg. Austria was represented by Obertauern in the Salzburg region and the First Holiday Region in the Zillertal. In March, the last three classes spent their winter sports week in Austria (Stubai Valley & Altenmarkt-Zauchensee) and at Kronplatz in South Tyrol.

The 8th grade class from Eschach School in Dunningen, Baden-Württemberg,

visited the Stubai Valley in Tyrol from March 16th to 20th. The students were greeted by ideal conditions on the Stubai Glacier for unforgettable days in the high mountains. While the beginners learned their first turns under professional instruction, the more advanced skiers were able to refine their technique on the wide slopes.

At the same time, the 9th grade class from the Miesbach secondary school in Bavaria spent their "Your Winter Week" in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee in the Salzburg region. In one of the region's most diverse ski areas, the students explored the World Cup slopes on skis and snowboards. The sunny March weather and the perfectly groomed pistes generated pure enthusiasm among the participants.

The final week of winter sports for the season took place at Kronplatz in South Tyrol. There, the 9th grade students from the Ansbach Municipal Business School in Bavaria enjoyed an unforgettable time against a breathtaking winter backdrop. To round off the season, the ski resort offered everything one could wish for, providing the students with excellent skiing experiences on its wide slopes. Free use of public transport with the South Tyrol Guest Pass and the sunny weather made the trip perfect.

As part of the project, the nine groups not only experienced unforgettable downhill runs and a special sense of community, but also other unique highlights. In addition to a meeting with Olympic champion Viktoria Rebensburg in Lenggries, a visit to the Olympic ski jump in Garmisch-Partenkirchen was also on the agenda. With these successful winter sports weeks, the school class project, following its debut in the winter of 2025, once again underscores its importance for the sustainable promotion of winter sports in 2026. It not only provided the school classes with unforgettable winter experiences, but also highlighted the fundamental importance of physical activity, community, and experiencing nature in an educational context. The continuation of the "Your Winter Week" for the 2026/27 season is already planned.